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pwalker8 · 10-08-2008, 10:16 PM

By backlist, I mean books that were originally published several years ago, rather than current books. Generally speaking, a book makes most of it's sales in the first couple of months of release. This is because the big chains are quick to remove books that aren't moving from the selves. Of course, this makes it difficult for a book build a following via word of mouth. Books do get reprinted, of course, but for the most part, it's the more popular authors who get reprinted.

One of my pet theories is that ebooks will help authors from the stand point that they will sale more of their older stuff since it's actually always available in something other than the used book store. I have read some authors say that they fear that ebook sales will cut into/eliminate the reprint sales. So that is where the question is coming from.

btw, as one might expect, I've bought a lot more since I originally posted that. I'm up to around 100 from Sony and another 30 from Amazon for the kindle (I have both now), plus all the Baen books that have come out since then.

10-08-2008, 10:16 PM	#19
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	By backlist, I mean books that were originally published several years ago, rather than current books. Generally speaking, a book makes most of it's sales in the first couple of months of release. This is because the big chains are quick to remove books that aren't moving from the selves. Of course, this makes it difficult for a book build a following via word of mouth. Books do get reprinted, of course, but for the most part, it's the more popular authors who get reprinted. One of my pet theories is that ebooks will help authors from the stand point that they will sale more of their older stuff since it's actually always available in something other than the used book store. I have read some authors say that they fear that ebook sales will cut into/eliminate the reprint sales. So that is where the question is coming from. btw, as one might expect, I've bought a lot more since I originally posted that. I'm up to around 100 from Sony and another 30 from Amazon for the kindle (I have both now), plus all the Baen books that have come out since then. Last edited by pwalker8; 10-08-2008 at 10:21 PM.